Do the numbers really convert to real-life performance in applications?

I mean, my glxgear score is quite low, but I don't really notice much of a difference when playing Quake3, Homeworld, or any other 3d intensive game. (or even fast paced mpeg, avi, or animations of any kind)

Do the numbers really convert to real-life performance in applications?

My thought on that is that if they were, you would see Tom's Hardware use them. They use just about every metric in the book that has even remotely useful meaning._________________if i never try anything, i never learn anything..
if i never take a risk, i stay where i am..